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04/12: Corruption - A Democratic Right?

I am not a big fan of the current Pakistani style of dictatorial democracy. A Minister from the ruling political party of the government, the Pakistan People's Party, recently stated that "Corruption is our right!" on a live TV program. Watch the video here: Corruption Is Our Right: PPP Minister.

Is it just me who thinks that supporting such a "democratic setup" which feels that corruption is its God given right is rather pointless? Or is it just reward for the Pakistani people to have such a government which deems corruption its right? After all, it was these very people who voted this government in through pity votes due to Benazir Bhutto's death.

And the final question which this leads to is: Is democracy a viable system of governance for Pakistan and its people? It hasn't worked for Pakistan in the past 60+ years. Do we have the luxury of time to wait another 60 years hoping that it works for us?

Comments made

Astughfirullah. I think this man is certainly drunk. Listen to his words, GHAIR-INSAFI, BAY-INSAFI. Why can't he say NA-INSAFI. Look the style in which he's talking. He's not the only one, other competitors also exist who have other especialities e.g in vulgar language usage. Look at this, How Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan showsd her expertise:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG-wdOpNguM

Anyways coming to the topic. Today I don't have a certain answer with reasons. Alternatively I will like to ak your opinion. What you think about the cure of these problems? Atleast you would also be having some sort of solution in your mind. In my opinion one reasonable solution which I think but not with supportive reasons is that: re-elect, re-elect and continuously re-elect your represntatives untill unless you get best people. Else Military dictatorship is also an option but it would only create more mess and much worse thing, selection will start again. And selection is not a solution but election is certainly.

This man is a sitting minister in Islamabad known as Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi. Just google "Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi" and you will be surprised to see his sins.
Recently on Express news channel Mr. Mubasher Luqman took a very bold step and bring this culprit again in kimekight. On 9 March, 2008 this man was arrested in a raid of police over a Cat Housle (brothle) with many other so called Elders of our society. Look at his name Sardar (chief) and look at its sin, its shameful for the whole nation that such dirty peoples are being given ministership. Link with proof from Mubasher Luqman.
[b]PPP Federal minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi arrested with call girls in Cat Club Islamabad.[/url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPia1oZqCfU

We cannot shame these shameless people but we will always raise our voice. What to say more?

16/12 00:55:16

40 Mbps wrote:

The ongoing media campaign to malign President Zardari is an unwelcome and indeed dangerous blow to Pakistan’s democracy. One does not have to be a PPP or Asif Zardari supporter to realize the folly in this onslaught. Of course we want accountability, and condemn corruption. What we should be asking for is more democracy and transparency within the party. Anti-Zardari propaganda in the media seems to serve no purpose other than mud-slinging at a democratically-elected government. What is the alternative they are offering? A military dictatorship? Give democracy a chance. Let Zardari finish his innings. Have faith in the Pakistani people to elect a better, more credible President the next time around. Pakistan is faced with multiple crises and what we need in these troubled times is some semblance of normalcy. The only way we can achieve that is by working along democratic lines. It was a long and hard struggle to get rid of the last dictatorship. Let’s make sure that no General ever again takes the reigns of this country in his hands. We must continue to raise our voice against corruption and injustice, but remember that democracy is the only way forward.

You raise troubling and difficult questions, Asad. I have no real answers, just some thoughts.

Regarding corruption, the best defence is literacy. From what I've read, 50 percent of the Pakistani population is illiterate (age 15+ unable to read and write.) Those unable to read for themselves must rely on someone who can read to gain the knowledge to make decisions.

That gives the literate person an inordinate amount of power to shape the political and social environment. If that person supports a corrupt government, how do the iliterate ones learn about alternative viewpoints?

Regarding democracy, the true danger of a non-democratic government is tyranny. Even in a corrupt democracy, the people have the possibility of removing corrupt officals through the ballot box.

Under a tyrannical government, those in power will always attempt to crush any opposition. As the saying goes, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

History proves there is no such thing as a beneficial tyranny. Some people will always object to the actions of those in power. A tyrranical leader, even a beneficial one, will always choose to suppress dissent because dissent may lead to loss of power.

I have no idea how difficult it might be in Pakistan, but perhaps a movement among concerned literate Pakistanis to reach out to the illiterate ones by start a movement to bring literacy to all Pakistanis?

A saying I like is, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

@ Imran Matloob: The solution is to bar the current political dynasties from contesting in any elections. It might seem extreme but that is the only way to get fresh blood from the middle class into the political mainstream. While MQM might claim to be a party of, for and from the middle class, it is anything but. MQM is a terrorist organization just like PPP and PML-N who indulge in targeted killing and violence.

A majority of Pakistanis who vote are illiterate and their votes are based primarily on the person and they have no criteria. People vote for Bhutto when they vote for PPP while not realizing that the PPP of today is nothing like the PPP of that time. That party died decades back.

What can you expect from political parties which have no internal free and fair electoral process? It is a system of familial politics and as an educated common Pakistani, I abhor the situation and the lack of choice available. The prime example of how f***ed up the system is that a known crook and very possibly a murderer is our President?

The question to ask is this: Is the media presenting lies to the public? Is the President not guilty of stealing from the state? Is he not guilty of trying to subvert the judiciary?

I find the answers to the above questions in support of the media.

Ultimately, the clash between the judiciary and the executive is no one else's fault than Zardari. Mere sham of being elected democratically does not means that he is a legitimate president. If the cases regarding his immunity and eligibility are opened before the Supreme Court, he would come out the loser.

I repeat my question: Do we have another 60 years to wait for a sincere democratic leader? Needing a semblance of normalcy does not means that we become content with shoddy, insincere and corrupt leaders. That has been happening with every democratic government in our history.

The last dictatorship? If you consider Musharraf to be a dictator, you are very deeply mistaken. The way he came in might not be constitutional but in the last 30 or so years, he was the best leader we have had. Even now, if Musharraf comes to Pakistan and contests in the elections, he would have extensive support from Pakistanis who have seen how damaging democracy has been for Pakistan for the last two years and continuing.

These are troubling and difficult times. Hence the distrust of a system which has failed us for decades. It is deeply ironic that the best Pakistan has done has been under so-called dictatorial regimes.

There is no denying the fact that corruption is there in every government. The questions arise regarding the extent of it and how deeply rooted it is as an ideology. The person in the video seems to think that it is his right to do corruption and that anyone not doing corruption is the loser. With ministers like these, who needs enemies?

Increasing literacy levels and awareness are valid concerns. The Musharraf era saw the highest amount of resources devoted to education in the history of Pakistan. One of the first things the current "democratic" government did after coming into power was to slash the funding of educational institutions and scholarships for the deserving students. A trait common to all the major Pakistani political parties has been feudalistic streak in their leadership. many of them are land owners and they do not want their people to be educated for fear of them questioning these "leaders" about their rights and privileges granted to them under the constitution of Pakistan.

The nascent media (granted freedom for the first time under Musharraf) is also unable to cope with responsible reporting and tries to become the judge, jury and executioner on many issues. The slanted coverage tends to favor various political parties without regard to their history of abuse of the system and the very people whom they ask for votes. This very same media has a large influence over the illiterate voters apart from their elders. This unfortunately means that the mandate of the politicians and their strategy to tackle issues are not the primary criteria for gaining a vote.

I do not agree with tyrannical governments being any different from democratic governments when the time comes to crush their opponents or to suppress dissent. Both types deal the same way with their opponents, sometimes being discrete, other times being blatantly obvious.

Efforts for literacy are already there by various non-government organizations and volunteers. It is always an uphill struggle to get people to change the status quo.

The 'fishy' saying is a valid one. :D However, some people (read politicians) prefer giving the fish to the man to maintain the man's dependence on the fish giver.

Linked over to your blog from some other site and one post relating to payoneer cards etc. It is quite refreshing to see your PC( not) comment regarding the scum that make it difficult for your to trade in the big wide world.

Regarding Politicians they all suck where ever they come from, generally just out to line their pockets. The whole world is corrupt, it just depends to what degree!